Councillor intervention halts high-risk dredging plan at Wyre Dock

Councillor intervention halts high-risk dredging plan at Wyre Dock

A potentially serious environmental risk at Wyre Dock in Fleetwood has been halted following swift intervention by Reform Lancashire County Councillor David Shaw, after major flaws were uncovered in a dredging proposal submitted by Wyre Council.

The issue came to light when a Fleetwood resident noticed a public notice near Jubilee Quay outlining plans to dredge Wyre Dock and dispose of the dredged material immediately outside the dock gates. Local fishermen quickly raised concerns, warning that the proposals could obstruct the already narrow channel used by Fleetwood’s remaining fishing vessels.

Neither Lancashire County Council nor Fleetwood Town Council had been notified of the plans. On becoming aware of the proposal, Councillor Shaw acted immediately to investigate and identified the application on the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) website under reference MLA/2025/00320.

Serious environmental and navigation concerns

The scheme proposed excavating several metres down directly west of the dock gates and depositing the dredged material against the dock wall. The material would then be capped to form a saltmarsh adjacent to Jubilee Quay — close to residential properties and working maritime infrastructure.

Councillor Shaw submitted a formal objection, citing:

• The risk of odours spreading across Fleetwood
• Serious navigation hazards for fishing vessels
• A complete lack of local consultation

These concerns were supported by the North Western Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority.

Crucially, after consulting a former Fleetwood docks manager, Councillor Shaw identified the proposed disposal area as a historic ship-breaking site, likely to be contaminated with hazardous materials. He immediately alerted the MMO and provided historical evidence to support the concerns.

Testing confirms contamination

Subsequent testing confirmed severe contamination, and the MMO cancelled the project before any work began.

Councillor Shaw said:

^{“This was a serious environmental risk that should never have been missed. Local knowledge and proper scrutiny made the difference.}

^{I have now asked the MMO to add local councillors to the list of consultees so that we can prevent something like this happening again.”}

Local fisherman David Pilling added:

“If this project had been allowed to go ahead, the pollution it would have caused would have made it impossible to land any fish and could have shut down fishing here permanently.”

Protecting Fleetwood’s working harbour

The intervention prevented a potentially damaging environmental incident and protected both Fleetwood’s fishing industry and nearby residents. It also highlighted the importance of local knowledge, transparency and proper consultation when decisions are made that affect working harbours and coastal communities.